Interlocking roof tiles



y 1961 T. c. CAMPBELL 2,984,945

INTERLOCKING ROOF TILES Filed April 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /5 THADDEUSC. CAMPBELL DECEASED EDNA 5. C4MPBELL H/S E XE CUTE/X ATTOPNE V May 23,1961 T. c. CAMPBELL 2,934,945

INTERLOCKING ROOF TILES Filed April 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNl/E/V TORTHADDEUS C ClMPBfLL DECL'ASL'D [DNA 5. CAMPBELL H/S EXECUTE/X Bl fz Z 0ATTORN V United States Patent C l ice INTERLOCKING ROOF TILES ThaddeusC. Campbell, deceased, late of Rutherford, NJ., by Edna S. Campbell,executrix, Rutherford, NJ., assignor of one-half to Putnam RollingLadder Co., Inc., New York, N.Y.

Filed Apr. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 725,915

2 Claims. (Cl. 50198) This invention has reference to a set ofinterlocking roof tiles which are specially well adapted for use forcovering roofs of houses and like buildings in geographical locationwhere roofs as heretofore constructed are frequently damaged by wind ofhigh velocity.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a set ofinterlocking roof tiles and cooperating elements in combination whichwill withstand wind of hurricane force without being damaged by suchwind, while being durable, conveniently installed by unskilled labor andcheap to manufacture.

The novel features of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial view in perspective of a roof structure covered byinterlocking tiles constructed according to the present inventionshowing the tiles and cooperating elements assembled;

Fig. 2 is a partial end view in perspective of one of the slopes of theroof structure shown in Fig. 1, a number of tiles being shown nailed ininterlocked relation to the roof boards and with a number of tiles shownwith portions broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the roof tiles constructedaccording to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a tile used in cooperation with thetile shown in Fig. 3 at the caves and at the peak part of the roof;

Fig. 5 is a view of a tile in perspective adapted to be nailed to theroof boards at the side edges thereof following the laying of the tiles,shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a tile, a number of which are adaptedto be nailed to the side edges of the roof boards over the small end ofthe tiles shown in Fig. 5 and under such tiles which are placed at theeave parts of the roof.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a drip strip adapted to be nailed tothe eave board of the roof to serve for assisting in readily locatingthe tiles, shown in Fig. 4, in rows at equal spaced relation to eachother;

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a metallic strip, two of which arenailed to the roof a small distance apart from the peak thereof, forpreventing wind and rain reaching this point of the roof from thevalleys formed between successive rows of tiles in their assembledrelation;

Fig. 9 is a View in perspective of a molding strip adapted to engage theridges formed with the strips, shown in Figs. 1 and 8;

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of a piece of molding strip adapted tobe fitted over the adjacent or meeting ends of two lengths of themolding strip shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a partial end view of a number of tiles shown in Fig. 3, twoof the tiles being shown nailed in interlocked relation on the board ofthe roof, and portions of two inverted tiles in engaged relation withthe nailed tiles, and

Fig. 12 is a View in perspective of a plate adapted to Patented May 23,1961 be secured to the end portions of the strips, shown in Fig. 8, atthe completion of the tiles laying operation.

The set of tiles of the present invention may consist of any number oftiles 14-14a, both of similar channel shaped cross section, and may beconstructed, for example, of plastic sheet, metal, aluminum, or anyother suitable like sheet material as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 11. Thelongitudinal edges of the walls of these tiles are shaped to forminwardly extending projections or ridges 15 and 16 to serve forinterlocking these tiles to each other in a manner which will behereinafter described in detail.

The base or bottom of tiles 14 and 14a are formed with a taper as bestshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, while the walls themselves form anothertaper, and both tapers are of such value as to limit their longitudinalsliding engagement into each other with a lap substantially one third oftheir length. The tiles 14a, Figs. 1 and 2, are longitudinally fittedinto each other with their bottom sides resting against the felt Fplaced over the roof structure, and each is provided, adjacent the edgeof its larger end with a hole 17 for securing such tiles, as by nailingto the board RB of the roof, as shown in Fig. 2, as the laying of thetiles proceeds from any one of the eaves to the peak of the roof, whilea number of the channel shaped tiles 14 are disposed in an invertedposition with the ridges 15-16 of these tiles engaging the under side ofthe ridges 15-16 of the interengaged tiles 1411 which, as abovementioned, are nailed to the boards of the roof. The tiles 1414a aredisposed in equally spaced rows along the eave board of the roof asdefined by a drip strip 18, shown in Figs. 2 and 7 secured to the roofat the eave edge thereof prior to the laying of the tiles, while twostrips 1919a, shown in Figs. 1 and 8, which are of similar construction,are secured to the boards at the peak of the roof structure to serve aswind and rain barrier in the valleys formed by the rows of tiles 14a andthe rows of tiles 14 while serving to define the spaced relation of thetiles at that part of the roof.

The strip 18 is formed with lug members 20 extending at an anglerelative to the plane surface of the strip, and these lugs are providedat their free ends with drilled holes 21 serving for receiving nails forsecuring such strip, as above mentioned, to the eave board of the roof.The strip 18, in addition, is provided with equally spaced upwardlyextending arms 22 which are formed to register with the inner peripheralsurface of taper channel shaped tiles 23 which are disposed in theinverted position and the outer disposed surface of tiles 231), Fig. 2,fitted under the larger ends of tiles 14 which are disposed at the eaveof the roof, while a number of tiles 23a, Fig. 1, which are similar inconstruction to that of tiles 23--23b, Fig. 2, are fitted over the smallends of tiles 14 at the peak of the roof, the tiles 23, 23a, 23b beingeach provided with inwardly formed longitudinal ridges 15a and 16acooperating with the ridges 15--16 of tiles 14a to form guiding groovesfor receiving the ridges of tiles 14 and ridges of tiles 23 in theassembled relation at the caves of the roof.

The channel shaped openings 24 in strip 18, which are defined by thesides of the successive arms 22, register with the outer periphery oftiles 23b fitted under the small end of tiles 14a, which, as abovementioned, are nailed in position to the boards of the roof at the eavethereof.

The strip 19 which, like all the elements comprised in the roofconstruction of the present invention as shown in the several views ofapplicants drawing, is formed of thin sheet metal having at its endsarms 25 and 25a and a number of arms 27, shaped as to register with theouter disposed contours of the rows of tiles 23a and 14a assembled,while the free end 28 of each arm 27 is formed with a lug member 29 bentat an angle thereto, and each of these lugs is provided with a drilledhole as 30 serving for securing the strip to the board of the roofstructure in position, shown in Fig. 1. The strips 19- 19a which, asabove mentioned, are of similar sheet material construction, are eachformed with a longitudinal ridge 31 which, when these strips are nailedto their respective slope of the roof, a small distance from the peakthereof, cooperate with each other to form guiding elements forreceiving the channel shaped grooves 36 and 37 formed by the folds of amolding strip 32, shown in Figs. 1 and 9, serving for closing the spacebetween the strips -1919a at the peak of the roof, While a molding strip33 of a relatively short length, shown in Figs. .1 and 10, is fittedover the molding strip 32 in position at the meeting ends thereofwhenever two or more lengths of such strip are required so as to extendover the whole length of the roof, the molding strip piece 33 being heldin position onto the molding strip 32 by the medium of its ownresiliency with its inwardly bent edge portions 34 and 35 engaging theunder side surface of the guiding elements forming the grooves of themolding strip 32, as best seen in Fig. 1.

The arms 38 and 39 formed at the ends of drip strip 18 are shaped toregister with the inner periphery of a tile 40, Figs. 2 and 6, disposedat the side edge of the roof. This tile is provided with a ridge 41 forengaging the guiding groove formed by the assembly of tiles 14a and 23b,while the flange shaped side 42 of tile 40 extends downwardly with itslower edge substantially in line with the lower edge of drip strip 18,while the side 42 of tile 40 is provided with holes 43 for receivingnails serving for securing this tile to the board of the roof at theside edge thereof.

Tiles 44, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, are of similar construction andeach of a length similar to that of tile 14, and, like tile 40, one ofits sides, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a ridge 45 adapted toengage the under side surface of ridge 16 of the tile =14a at the caveside of the roof, while its downwardly extending flange portion 47 isprovided with holes 46 serving for receiving nails for securing suchtile to the roof board at the side edge thereof over the tile 40.

A substantially T-shaped plate 48, Fig. 12, is constructed of a widthcorresponding to the spaced relation between the arms 2525a of strips1919a and one of the plates 48 is secured to the arms 25-25a at each endof the roof, as by means of bolts, not shown, extending through theholes 49 and 50 in the flanges of plate 48 and through registering holes5151a in the arms 25- 25a of strips 1919a, while the top disposedportion 52 of the plate 48 is shaped to register with the transversecontour of the inner periphery of strip 32 so as to effectively closethe space formed by the strips 19--19a at both ends of the roof at thesepoints.

Tile roofs of the present invention are conveniently laid by firstsecuring the strip 18 to the cave board RB of the roof a short distancefrom the cave edge thereof in the position as shown in Fig. 2 by meansof ordinary nails, not shown, fitted in respective hole 21 at the end ofeach lug 20, the upward projecting arms 22 formed with that stripproviding means for readily locating the short length tiles 23b whichare fitted into the space 24 defined by the channel shaped openingsformed by the peripheral edges ofthe arms 22, while the short invertedtiles 23, which as above mentioned are similar in construction to thetiles 23b and of a taper similar to that of the tiles 1414a are readilylocated by their engagement with the enlarged top portion of arms 22.

The small ends of tiles 14a are inserted into the tiles 23b and nailedin position to the board of the roof, and this is followed by placingthe required number of tiles 14a successively in engagement with thetiles 23b to form the firs't assembled horizontal row.

The longitudinal distance engagement of the tiles 14- 14a inside eachother is limited to substantially one third 'df their length by theheight of the side wall taper and the taper of the base or bottom ofthese tiles, such tapers being of such value as to produce a clearancespace between the ridges of any two engaged tiles, which clearance is ofa width corresponding to the thickness of the ridges, as 1516 and 15a#16a, formed along the inwardly extending edges of the tiles forpermitting their longitudinal engagement as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thetile 40 which also has a taper similar to that of tiles 14-14a, but of ashorter length is then placed in position with its ridge 41 fitted intothe guiding slot formed by the engagement of tiles 23b and 14a at thatpoint with the flange portion 42 of tile 40 extending downwardly in avertical direction in line with the lower edge of strip 18 and securedin that position by nails engaging the holes 43, this being followed byplacing the tile 44 in position at the edge of the roof over the tile 40with its ridge portion 45 placed under the ridge of tile 14a disposed atthe left end of the first horizontal row of tiles at the cave of theroof, the tile 44 is then nailed to the board of the roof and the tilelaying operation is continued in an identical manner from the cave ofeach slope to the peak of the roof. A roof covered with tilesconstructed according to the present invention is of light weight, cwnomical, and because of the tight fit of the tiles throughout theirengaged length, produce a roof which is leakproof under the most severeweather condition.

The strips 19--19a, Fig. 1, are nailed to the roof board in parallelspaced relation to each other, as defined by the width of the end plates48 which are secured to the ends of the arms 2525a of strips 19 and 19aby a number of ordinary bolts, not shown, engaging the holes 51-51a inthe strips and in the registering holes 49 and 50 in the flanges of theend plates, the molding strip 32 being placed in position wherein theguiding grooves 36 and 37 of this molding stripengage the ridges 3131aof the strips 19-1911, followed by inserting the short length of moldingstrip 33 over the meeting ends of two molding strips 32, the strip 33being held in position thereon by its ridges 34 and 35 engaging theunder side of the guiding elements formed with this strip by the mediumof its own resiliency.

It is understood that minor changes may be made to the roof tiles andcooperating elements of the present invention without departing from thescope of the appended claims. I

What is claimed is:

1. A set of lengthwise interlocking tiles, each tile constructed ofsheet metal shaped to form a tapered channel of rectangular crosssection, the side walls of said channel decreasing in height firom oneend to the other end to form another taper, said tapers cooperating witheach other for limiting the interengagem'ent of said to a distancesubstantially one third of their length when in the assembled relationin parallelly disposed rows, a drip strip, lug members carried by saiddrip strip for securing the latter to the cave part of the roof, saiddrip strip having means for interengaging the outer disposed peripheryof a number of said tiles and the inner disposed periphery of anothernumber of said tiles for defining the spaced interengaged relation ofsaid tiles in said rows, a pair of parallelly disposed strips, each ofsaid strips having a plurality of arms for engaging the inner peripheryof a number of said tiles and the outer disposed periphery of anothernumber of said tiles, means carried by the arms formed with said stripsin said pair for securing the latter to the room board insp'acedrelation to each other adjacent the peak part of the roof, said stripsin said pair having ridge elements formed along their length, a moldingstrip having guiding means for engaging the ridges formed with saidparallelly disposed strips to form a closure therebetween, an arm memberformed at the opposite end of each of said strips in said pair, and aplate secured to similarly disposed arms at the ends of said strips insaid pair to form closures therebetween at the top sides of the roof.

2. A set of lengthwise interlocking roof tiles, each constructed ofsheet metal shaped to form a tapered channel of rectangular crosssection, ridges formed at the edge of the side walls of said channelinwardly thereof, said side walls decreasing in height along theirlength to form another taper, the first and second mentioned tapercooperating with each other for limiting the engaging relation of anumber of said tiles to a distance substantially one third of theirlength, guiding grooves formed by the ridges of said tiles in saidrelation, said grooves serving for receiving the ridges of anothernumber of said tiles for interlocking therewith, a drip strip, armmembers carried by said drip strip having means for interengaging theouter disposed periphery of a number of said tiles and the innerdisposed periphery of another number of said tiles, 2. pair ofparallelly disposed strips secured to the peak part of the roof inspaced relation to each other, each of said strips in said pair having aridge formed lengthwise thereof, arm members carried by said strips insaid pair for engaging the inner periphery of a number of said tiles andthe outer periphery of another number of said tiles in said engagedrelation, means carried by the arm members of each of said strips insaid pair for securing the latter to respective slope of the roof, amolding strip having lengthwise formed guiding grooves at its edgeportions for engaging the ridges formed with each of said strips in saidpair, an arm member formed at each end portion of the last mentionedstrips, and a substantially T-shaped plate secured to each of the twosimilarly disposed arms of said strips in said pair, said platescooperating with said molding strip and the strips in said pair to formclosures at the peak and top sides of the roof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS356,393 Helliwell Jan. 18, 1887 1,248,349 Larson Nov. 27, 1917 1,570,839Joaquin Jan. 26, 1926 2,725,832 Huntington Dec. 6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS400,271 Italy Nov. 28, 1942 127,714 Australia May 6, 1948 951,081 FranceApr. 11, 1949 496,612 Belgium July 15, 1950

